Google Is Appealing Its Search Monopoly Ruling & Asks To Pause Remedies
Google is appealing the ruling that it is an illegal search monopoly – which surprises no one. Plus, Google asked the court to pause the remedies during the appeal phase.
Google Warns On Hosting With Free Subdomain Hosts
Google’s John Mueller once again warned about hosting your website on free subdomain hosting service because they are magnets for a “lot of spam & low-effort content.”
OpenAI Will Soon Test Ads On ChatGPT
OpenAI announced on Friday it will begin testing ads in the ChatGPT responses in the coming weeks. The ads will show on the free product and low-cost subscription tier, ChatGPT Go. The ads will show under the main response and not influence the answer…
Google: Comments Link Spam Has No Effect On SEO/Search
Google’s John Mueller said that link spam left in the comments section have no effect on Google Search or SEO, (and maybe even your website’s performance in Google Search?). He wrote on Bluesky, “These links all have no effect – they’re from spammers d…
Google Search Ranking Volatility Hits January 15-16
I am seeing new signs of yet more Google Search ranking volatility and a possible tweak to the ranking search algorithm. Something kicked off yesterday, January 15th, that the third-party tools picked up on. With this update, there is limited chatter, …
Search News Buzz Video Recap: Google Personal Intelligence, Universal Commerce Protocol, Apple Picks Gemini & Ongoing Search Volatility
It is another week and more Google Search ranking volatility but this was a weird one. Google launched Personal Intelligence in the Gemini app and it is coming to AI Mode in Google Search. Google AI Mode new ad format…
Google To Prioritize Removing Prediction News Content From Search & News
Rajan Patel, the VP of Engineering for Search, said on X that Google is making “changes to ranking” to remove prediction content from showing up in the Google Search top stories and news sections. This comes after some sites are posting “prediction” c…
Google AI Overview Local Pack Leading To Huge Drops In Visibility
Over the past few weeks, Google has been showing AI Overviews for local packs, leading some businesses to see huge drops in visibility for their Google Business Profile and local listings. Some businesses are seeing 50% declines or more because of the …
Microsoft Advertising Adds Share Of Voice Metrics, Asset Group-Level URL Options, Customer Acquisition Goals…
Microsoft Advertising announced a slew of new features including new customer acquisition goals as an open beta, Share of voice (SOV) metrics, Asset group-level URL options and tracking templates, increased Search Theme limit, enhanced asset group impo…
Google Ads Campaign Total Budgets Live As An Open Beta
Google Ads has made the Campaign total budgets officially live as an open beta for any advertiser to sign up and use. Campaign total budgets are now available in Search, Performance Max and Shopping campaigns within Google Ads.
Google Ads Manual CPC Bid Selection Streamlined
Google Ads has reportedly streamlined the selection capability of Manual CPC bidding during the campaign setup. Now the option can be found under the “Conversions” goal, labeled as “Manually set bids.”
Google Ads A/B Tests Product Titles & Images For Shopping Ads
Google Ads is doing a limited test with some advertisers to allow them to run A/B tests with different product titles and images in Shopping Ads. Ginny Marvin, the Google Ads Liaison, said it is “currently being tested with a small number of merchants.”
Personal Intelligence In Gemini & Soon In Google Search AI Mode
Google is rolling out what it calls “Personal Intelligence” in the Gemini app and it will soon also come to Google Search within AI Mode. Google announced that Personal Intelligence in Gemini “connects Gmail, Photos, YouTube and Search in a single tap.”
Google’s John Mueller Says Universal Commerce Protocol Won’t Kill SEO
Earlier this week, Google announced Universal Commerce Protocol (UCP) and it has a lot of the industry worried. Once SEO named Ramon Eijkemans said, “I hate to bring this, but SEOs: we’re gonna be f$@*ed.” John Mueller from Google responded on Bluesky …
Google: Favicons In Search Not Impacted By Google Core Updates
While a number of Google Search features are impacted by Google’s core update, favicons showing up or not is not one of them. Yes, your site can drop in the rankings, or not show up in Google Discover, or be removed from Top Stories and other features …
New Google AI Mode Ads: Explore Guides and Articles
We have seen ads in AI Mode before but there may be a new Google Ads format coming to AI Mode results, not the just the Direct Offer ads, but Explore guides and article ads.
Google Trends Explore Page Adds Gemini
Google has added Gemini to the Google Trends Explore page to help you find new and fresh search terms. It will also compare those search terms automatically for you, all in a new design. This is rolling out now, but you might not see it just yet.
Google: We Prohibit Showing Different Prices In Search/AI Mode vs Website
The other day, I saw the Google News channel on X respond to claims that Google is going to allow merchants to overcharge you for products sold through the new AI checkout protocol. I found it crazy because Google has checks and balances to ensure merc…
Google: Linking Brand Websites Together At Reasonable Scale Is Fine
Google’s John Mueller was asked if it was acceptable to link your brand websites together on a brand page to communicate to your users that the company owns multiple brands. John said, it is pretty common to do so and if done as a reasonable scale, it …
Google AdSense Earnings Dropping Again eCPM/RPM – Complaints
I am seeing a spike in complaints from Google AdSense publishers of earnings dropping again over the past 24-hours or so. This is similar to last week, and it also coincides with an unconfirmed Google search ranking update.